Cotton breaker



Feb. 6, F. N. ROSS COTTON BREAKER Filed June 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Lil; a

I Il l INVENTOR Wmmwmw ATTORNEYS Feb. 6,' 1934. F. N. Ross COTTON BREAKER Filed June 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

A MM @KMX/6mm ATTO RN EYS F. N. ROSS COTTON BREAKER Feb. 6, 1934.

Filed June 16, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. N. ROSS COTTON BREAKER Feb. 6, 1934.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16, 1930 INVENTOR [frekr/a/M fas-v ATTO RN E YS Patented Feb. 6, 1934 COTTON BREAKER Frederick N. Ross, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Briggs Manufacturingy Company, Detroit, Milch., a corporation of Michigan Application June 16, 1930. Serial No. 461,556

22 Claims. (Cl. 19-161) This invention relates to improvements in cushion forming mechanism and more particularly to an improved cotton bat breaker mechanism.

I While the particular subject matter of this invention may nd utility in various types of cushion forming or sewing mechanisms, it is employed with particular advantage in connection with the type of cushion sewing mechanism il- 10 lustrated and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 490,034, filed October 20, 1930, which includes among other things means for presenting the finish fabric or velour together with the foundation or backing or lining fabric 15. to a sewing mechanism where the finish and 1ining fabrics are united to form a plurality of plaits or tubes.

Prior to their presentation to the sewing mechanism the finish fabric is gathered to provide 2G- a plurality of seam ridges and the lining fabric or backing is arranged in superposed relation with respect to these seam ridges and with a portion of the lining fabric adjacent to and parallel with the seam ridges at one side thereof, thus 25v forming the plaits or tubes. The cotton bat is fed and presented along with the finish and lining fabrics and is arranged in the plaits or tubes provided by the aforesaid formation. The fabrics are then united by stitching extending through 30 that portion of the lining fabric parallel and adjacent to the seam ridgesand through the seam ridges into the tubes where the stitches are completed.

The cushion sewing or forming mechanism y constituting the subject matter of this invention is adapted for continuous operation, thus providing means for automatically manufacturing multi-plait or multi-tube upholstery. Inasmuch as the upholstery thus produced must subsequently be severed into length, suitable for the particular size and types of seats, it is necessary that the cotton bat disposed in the plaits or tubes be periodically broken or severed, thus permitting H the subsequent severing of the nish and lining fabrics and producing a structure in which the cotton bat terminates short of the tube ends.

It is the particular object of this invention to provide a mechanism for automatically severing 5G or breaking the cotton bat at predetermined regulable intervals.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cotton bat breaker mechanism of this character which will operate positively at desired pre- 5 determined intervals and in timed relation with the remaining structure of the cushionv sewing or forming mechanism.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of the invention will be `made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings., wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional elevational view through a cushion sewing or forming mechanismrwith my improved breaker mechanism associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in Figure f1; 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational 7.0, view substantially on the line and looking in the direction of the arrows, see line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure' show.- ing the parts in a different'position;

Figure 5 isan enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the mechanism ,illustrated in vFig'- ures 3 and 4 with theAk parts substantially inthe position illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is another fragmentary" perspectivel view of this mechanism as viewed from the other side; Y

Figure? is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 7-71in Figure 4; i

Figure 8 is a` detail sectional view vtaken substantially on the plane indicated by line 8 8 in Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the vplane indicated by line 9 9 in Figure'3 looking in the direction Aof the arrows;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated byline 10--10 in Figure v4;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 11-11 in Figure 3;

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the locking cam;

Figure 13 is a detail perspective vview of thel tripping cam;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken through the cushion or upholstery produced-by the cushion forming mechanism, and

Figure 15 is a longitudinal diagrammatic sectional view through the'upholstery showing the break in the cotton bat.

Referring now morev particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts and with particular reference to Fig-l ures 14 and 15, the general problem "involved los Vfabric is gathered to provide a-piurality of spaced seam ridges S and the lining fabric is arranged,V

in superposed relation over the finish fabric with portions L thereof adjacent to and parallel with the seam ridges S at one side thereof. This forms plaits or tubes in which the cotton bat E is disposed. The finish and lining fabrics are united by transverse stitching Y extending from the outside through the portions L of the lining L and through the seam ridges S of the finish fabric F, the stitching being completed in the plaits or tubes.

. Inv Figure l5 there is diagrammatically illustrated a fragmentary longitudinal section through one of the plaits or tubes. The foundation or lining fabric L is fed to the mechanismV from a A roll in a continuous strip and While the finish fabric or velour F may also be fed from a continuous roll, it is customary to have the velour in short lengths or strips of sufcient dimensions to form one complete cushion and in the diagrammatic view numbered Figure 15, a break;4 F" is shown between a pair of iinish fabric pieces F--F. Obviously it is also desirable to sever or break the cotton bat short of the ends of the finish fabric pieces F-F so .that the finished upholstery may be subsequently severed into length merely by cutting through the foundation fabric L, theV cotton bat terminating short of the ends of the plaits 'or tubes. Thereafter the finish fabric, when the upholstery is applied to the seat,

1 may be folded over to close the ends of the plaits or tubes. Y

yReferring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that there is fragmentarily illustrated the adjacent ,jyportions of the foundation andnish fabric forming mechanism v@with whichthe cotton bat breaker mechanism is associated. The details of the preferredV form of foundation forming mechanism are shownr and described inY my copending application, Serial No. 590,275, filed Feb. -l, 1932. Herein a fragment of this mechanism comprising endless forming members -10 and stationary forming members 11 arey illustrated. The main conveyor for the finish fabric or velour is, indicated generally by the reference character 1'2, the details of this structure being shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 462,620 June 20, 1930. Cooperating with the conveyor 12 is finish. fab- ;6 ric or velour forming mechanism indicated gention or lining fabric-L and the finish fabric F, together with the cotton bat B are presented tofthe sewing mechanism. y

The severing or breaking of the continuous lengths of cotton bat B, is accomplished in con- 751 nectionwith each length of cotton bat by means of sets of cooperating breaker wheels 15 and 16 carri-ed respectively by shafts 17 and A18 ex'- tending transversely o-f the machine. These breaker wheels are in the form of toothed Wheels and each set comprises a pair of toothed wheels 16 on the shaft 13 between which the toothed wheel 154m the other shaft 17 is arranged.

The severing or breaking of the cotton bat strip B is accomplished by periodically stopping rotation of shaft 13 and consequently breaker wheel 16, while shaft 1'? and consequently breaker Wheel i5 rotate continuously. Ordinarily the breaker wheels i5 and 16 rotate at the same speed in the direction of' the arrows in Figure 1 to thus assist in feeding the cotton bat down the inclined wall 19 and onto the finish fabric F which is being introduced into the sewing mechanism 14 by means of the conveyor 12.

in Figure 2 it will be noted that a driving gear in they form of a sprocket Wheel 26 is fixed to the end of shaft 17 which projects beyond frame member' 2i at the left hand side of this gure. A sprocket chain (not shown) driven by a suitable source of power (not shown) drives shaft 17 continuously shaft 17 intermittently drives shaft i8 through mechanism indicated generally by `the reference character 22 at the right hand side of Figure 2. The shafts l? and 18 fare rotatably journaled in the `frame 2l of the machine at both ends thereof and the mechanism which alternately stops` and starts shaft i8 is carried'either directly or indirectly by the frame 2l. By comparison of Figures 3, 4, '7 and 8, the details of mechanism 22 and the driving connection between shafts 17 :and lrwillk be made more apparent. of shaft 17 has keyed thereto a pinion 23 which meshes with gear 2li carried on stub shaft 25 mounted on frame 21. Gear 24 is adapted by means of a one-way roller clutch, to be alternately coupled or uncoupled with gear 2,6 also rotatable about stub shaft 25. Gear 26 is constantly'in mesh (see Figure 7) with pinion 27 carried on the projecting end of shaft 13, which is the shaft that ris alternately rotated and stopped. n Y

The one-way'roller clutch is of substantially standard construction and comprises a plurality of rollers 28 carriedin a sleeved extension 29 projecting from the vface of gear l2li. Mounted on a sleeve-like extension 30 of gear 26 is a squared or iiattened, seeY more especially Fig-2 ures 3 and fl. 1n one position ofthe parts, for instance Figure therollers 28 Vare adapted to be wedged between. the inner surface 35 of the sleeve-like eXtension'ZS)A of gear 24 and the outer'surface 33 of the sleeve-like extension 36 of gear 26,] to thus lock gears 24 and 26 for rotation with one another. When, however,V the rotation of ratchet wheel 31 has been arrested,

by means yet to be referred to, rollers 28 are As seen in Figure 3, the endy moved to the position illustrated in Figure 4, Y

or out of their wedging position, whereupon gear 24 rotates independently of gear 26 and gear' 27, and consequently gear V27 and shaft 18 remain stationary.

The ratchet Wheel 31 is resiliently connected to gear 26 for limited relative rotative movement by means of pins Sii-carried respectively by the gear 2 6 and ratchet wheel 31 and projecting into a recess 37 in gear 26 in which is disposed a coil spring 38 having its ends connected respectively to the pins 36. Thus, when the ratchet wheel 31 has its movement arrested there will be a limited relative rotative movement between this ratchet wheel and gear 26, due to the inertia of the latter, which will move the parts to the position illustrated in Figure 4 to release the clutch rollers 28, and compress the spring 38, but when subsequently the ratchet wheel 31 is released, the spring 38 will again move the parts to substantially the position illustrated in Figure 3 where the clutch rollers 28 act to again couple gears 24 and 26 to one another.

The mechanism for periodically arresting movement of ratchet wheel 31 will now be described. As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 8, shaft 17 is provided in the end thereof beyond gear 23 with a sprocket wheel 39. A breaker chain engages this sprocket wheel 39 and an idler sprocket wheel 41 vertically adjustably mounted in a guideway 42. This breaker chain" has adjustably connected thereto a tripping cam 43, illustrated in perspective view in Figure 13 and a locking cam 44 illustrated in a perspective view in Figure 12. As mentioned, these two cam members 43 and 44 are adjustably connected to breaker chain 40 so that their relative position thereon and the relative distance therebetween may be regulated as desired. By regulating their position on the breaker chain 40, the operations which they perform may be timed with respect to the remaining operations of the apparatus and by altering the distance between these two cam members, the interval during which one of `the cotton bat feeding elements is stopped may be controlled. As will appear hereinafter, this will, as a consequence, control the distance between the parting ends of the cotton bat. The sprocket 41 may obviously be adjusted in its guideway 42 to maintain the breaker chain 40 taut, or may be adjusted to accommodate breaker chains of different lengths when it is expedient or desirable to eiect a breaking of the cotton bat strip either at the expiration of shorter intervals of time or longer intervals of time.

Cam 43 is provided with a cam surface or nose 45 adapted to trip a latch member yet to be referred to, whereas cam member 44 is provided with a cam surface 46 adapted to re-set a mecha- 1 nism yet to be referred to.

This mechanism is illustrated more particularly in Figures 3, 4, 7 and 9. A lever 47 is pivotally mounted as at 48, at its lower end, on the frame of the machine and has pivotally connected thereto, at its upper end, as at 49 a cam lever 50. This cam lever has a cam face 51 adapted to engage a roller 52 carried by plate 58 secured to the frame of the machine. Cam lever is held in engagement with roller 52 by means of a spring 54 connected to the end of lever 51 and to a pin 55 projecting from plate 53. The upper edge of cam lever 50 is preferably bifurcated to receive a pawl 56 pivotally connected thereto as at 57 and normally urged upwardly by means of a spring 58 engaging the underside of the pawl and seating in a recess 59 formed in the upper edge of cam lever 50. Pawl 56 is adapted to engage ratchet wheel 31 and is shown in engagement with this ratchet wheel in Figure 4 and out of engagement therewith in Figure 3.

The face of lever 47 adjacent breaker chain 40 is provided with a projection or nose 60 which is adapted to be engaged by the locking or latching cam 44 which will move this lever 47 from the position illustrated in VFigure -4 'to that illustrated in Figure 3 in which the latch 61 having a latch portion 62 engaged behind a keeper 63 carried on the upper surface of box-like member 64. The latch 61 is pivotally connected to cam lever 47 as indicated at 65, the latch being in substantially the form of a bell crank with its lower end engaged by a leaf spring V66. This leaf spring normally rocks latch 61 so as to'cause the same to engage the latch shoulder 63. The nose orprojecting portion 67 of latch 61 is adapted to be engaged by the nose 45 of tripping cam 43 4.to thus vrock the latch about its pivot and release the Vsame from shoulder 63. This permits lever 47 to be moved toward the left to the position illustrated in Figure 4 under the influence of a spring 68 carried in the box-like member` 64.

During the movement of the lever 47 toward the left, cam surface 51 rides over rollers 52 and causes pawl 56 to engage ratchet wheel 31 to arrest its rotative movement so that as a consequence clutch rollers 28 are disengaged and the rotative movement of gear 26 is stopped. This in turn stops rotation of shaft 18 and as a consequence the rotation of breaker wheels 16. In the meantime breaker wheels 15 are constantly rotating so that there will be a severance of the cotton bat B at substantially the point indicated by reference character X, see more particularly Figure 1.

The fiight of the breaker chain 40 during 105 which the cams 43 and 44 are operative is backed up by an abutment 69 fastened to the frame of the machine. It will be obviousthat with the breaker chain moving in the direction of the arrows A, see Figures 3 and 4, that cam surface 11.0 45 on carn 43 will rst engage latch 61 to rock the same about its pivot 65 and release it from latch shoulder 63. Thiswill permit spring 68 to move the lever 47 to the position illustrated in Figure 4 and engagement of cam lever 50 with 115 roller 52 will raise this lever to cause pawl 56 to engage ratchet wheel 31 and stop its rotation. As a consequence the gears 24 and 26 will be uncoupled and the rotation of shaft 18 stopped. Shaft 18 will remainl stationary until 120 cam 44 engages the projection or nose 60 on lever 47 to again move this lever back to the position illustrated in Figure 3 where latch 61 again engages latch shoulder 63 and cam lever 50 is drawn downwardly by spring 54 to a posi- 125 tion Where pawl 56 releases ratchet wheel 31. Cam member 44 is provided with a cut-away portion 70 providing a clearance whereby this cam will not actuate latch member 61. As a consequence, when the parts have been returned to the position illustrated in Figure 3, gear 26 will again be coupled with gear 24 and rotation of shaft 18 will commence and continue until cam 43 again becomes operative to actuate latch 61.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a mechanism entirely automatic and which in operation will periodically arrest the rotationof one of the breaker wheels of each set to thereby longitudinally tension each cotton bat B to such an extent that the same will 149 be broken or severed. At all other times the breaker wheels 15 and 16 act to accurately and positively feed the cotton bat along with the assembled finish and lining fabrics to the sewing mechanism. The whole structure operates continuously in timed relation soas to make possible the continuous automatic production of cushion upholstery. p

While in practice the structure herein described and illustrated has been found to give 15g entirely satisfactory results it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes in the many non-essential details maybe resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as will come within the purviewof the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

. l. In a cushion forming mechanism, the combination with finish and liningrfabric feeding means, of means for feeding a strip of cotton bat between said finish and lining fabrics, and automatic means for periodically causing said cotton bat feeding means to break said cottonbat strip into separate lengths.

2. YIn cushion forming mechanism, the combination with finish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of a pair of elements for feeding cotton bat, means for driving said elements to feed the cotton bat at the same rate as the finish and lining fabric, and adjustable means for a1- ternately rendering said driving means operative and inoperative with respect to one of said feeding elements for regulable periods cf'tirne.

3. In cushion forming mechanism, the combination with finish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, means normally driving said elements in synchronism and means for periodically disconnecting said driving means from one of sad elements, said last mentioned means being reguiably timed with respect to said fabric feeding mechanism and adjustable to effect the disconnection of said driving means for predetermined periods of time.

4. In cushion forming mechanism, the combination with nnish and lining fabric feeding eci mechanism, of cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, means normally driving said elements in synchronisin, for periodically disconnecting said driving means from one of sad elements, means for adjusting the timing of said last mentioned means with respect to said fabric feeding mechanism, means adjustable to eifect the disconnecting of said driving means for predetermined periods of time.

. 5. In mechanism of the class described, cottonV bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, shafts therefor, means for driving oneof said shafts, means drivingly connecting said shafts kwhereby they may operate synchronousiy, said means including a clutch and cani control means for automatically connecting and discon- `pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor,

means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronisin, and cam control Vmeans actuated by the driven shaft aforesaid for periodically actuating said clutch to render inoperative the driving connection between said shafts. Y

8. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for drivingcne of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronisrn, cam means actuated in timed relation to one of said shafts and means actuated by said cam means for rendering vsaid clutch operative and inoperative to thereby control the driving connection between said shafts.,

In cushion forming Ymecheu/rism of the class described, cottonrbat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, clutch control mechanism and means operable by one of said shafts vand adjustable with respect thereto and with respect to one another for periodically operating said clutch control mechanism to disengage said clutchk for predef termined intervals of time.

i0. fn cushion forming mechanism kof the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding,v elements, actuatingy shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts,

'means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, a chain member actuated by one of said shafts,a clutch control :mechanism and means on said chainrnieinoer for actuating said clutch control member. Y l

if. In cushionforining mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, meansjfor driving one of said shafts,

means iinzrudingk a clutchdrivingly connecting chronisnn an endless chain drlvenfrorn one of said shafts, clutch control mechanism and a pair of cam members onsaid chain for periodically actuating said clutch control mechanism'to disengage said clutch for predetermined intervals of time. Y I

13. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding element-av actuating shafts therefon means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchromism, an endless chain driven from one of said,l

shafts, clutch control mechanism and a pair of cam members on said chain for periodically actuating said clutch control lmechanismto disengage said clutch for predetermined intervals of time, said cam members being-adjustably con-- nected to said chain and relatively adjustable to one another'. f

le. In a cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means 'including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchro- CII nism, an endless chain driven by one of said shafts, a pair of cam members on said chain, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for controlling said clutch and means for actuating said pawl and ratchet mechanism by means of said cam members, for the purpose set forth.

15. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, a chain driven by one of said shafts, a pair of spaced cams adjustably connected to said chain, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for controlling said clutch, members including alatch mechanism for actuating said pawl and ratchet, said cams actuating said last mentioned means for periodically disengaging and engaging said clutch.

16. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, a chain driven by one of said shafts, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said clutch, a cam and lever means for actuating said paWl and ratchet mechanism, a latch for maintaining said pawl and ratchet disengaged and means on said chain for actuating said cam and lever means for said latch means.

17. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, a chain driven by one of said shafts, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating said clutch, a cam and lever means for actuating said pawl and ratchet mechanism, a latch for maintaining said pawl and ratchet disengaged and means on said chain for actuating said cam and lever means for said latch means, said cams being adjustable on said chain and relative to one another, for the purpose set forth.

18. In cushion forming mechanism of the class described, cotton bat feeding means including a pair of feeding elements, actuating shafts therefor, means for driving one of said shafts, means including a clutch drivingly connecting said shafts whereby they may operate in synchronism, a chain driven by the driven shaft aforesaid, a ratchet associated with said clutch, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet, a cam member carrying said pawl, a lever for actuating said cam member, means for urging said lever in one direction wherein said pawl engages said ratchet, a latch for holding said lever in its other position and cams carried by said chain for releasing said latch and for moving said lever .in the direction opposed by said spring.

19. In cushion forming mechanism, the combination with nish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of a pair of elements for feeding cotton bat, means for driving said elements to feed the cotton bat at the same rate as the nnish and lining fabric, and adjustable means operative to cause said driving means to move one of said elements relative to the other for a desired period of time at desired intervals to break the cotton bat into separate lengths and cause the finish and lining fabric to be fed relative to the cotton bat from which said lengths were broken.

20. In cushion forming mechanism, the cornbination with finish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of a pair of elements for feeding cotton bat, means for driving said elements to feed the cotton bat at the same rate as the finish and lining fabric, mechanism operative to cause said driving means to move one of said elements relative to the other for a desired period of time to break the cotton bat into separate lengths and cause the finish and lining fabric to be fed re1- ative to the cotton bat from which said lengths were broken, and adjustable means for rendering said mechanism operative periodically after said cotton bat has been fed a desired amount.

21. In cushion forming mechanism, the combination With finish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of a pair of elements for feeding cotton bat, means for driving said elements to feed the cotton bat at the same rate as the finish and lining fabric, mechanism operative to cause said driving means to move one of said elements relative to the other for a desired period of time to break the cotton bat into separate lengths and cause the finish and lining fabric to be fed re1- ative to the cotton bat from which said lengths were broken, said last mentioned mechanism including devices for rendering the same operative and inoperative, one of said devices being adjustable relative to the other.

22. In cushion forming mechanism, the combination with finish and lining fabric feeding mechanism, of means for feeding a strip of cotton bat at the same rate as the finish and lining fabric including a pair of rotatable members, one of said feed members being arranged in advance and overlapping the other in the direction of feed of the strip, and adjustable means operative to cause said feeding means to move one of said members relative to the other for a desired period of time at desired intervals to break the cotton bat into separate lengths and cause the iinish and lining fabric to be fed relative to the cotton bat from which said lengths were broken.

FREDERICK N. ROSS. 

